Tess Daly and Vernon Kay split after 23 years of marriage as they issue joint statement

Tess Daly and Vernon Kay have split up after 23 years of marriage.

On Friday the couple, who tied the knot in 2003, announced the decision in a joint statement shared on their social media accounts.

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The statement read: "After much consideration, and with a deep sense of care and respect for one another, we have made the decision to separate amicably.

"This has not been an easy choice, but it comes from a place of mutual understanding and a shared desire of what is best for both of us.

"We remain great friends and, most importantly, fully committed to our roles as loving and supportive parents, which will always be our priority.

"There are no other parties involved in this decision. We kindly ask for privacy during this time as we navigate this transition together.

"We will not be making any further public comments. Tess and Vernon."

The couple share daughters Phoebe, 23, and Amber, 19, and have been living at their home in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire.

Both have maintained an active joint presence on social media, frequently appearing together on Instagram.

Beyond their television careers, Ms Daly and Mr Kay hold a shared commercial partnership as food ambassadors for Marks and Spencer.

The couple had long been considered one of British showbusiness's most enduring partnerships, having wed in 2003.

Their marriage had previously weathered a significant crisis in 2010 when Vernon was exposed for exchanging inappropriate messages with Page 3 model Rhian Sugden after meeting her at a Bolton nightclub.

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Though the pair never had a physical relationship, Ms Daly was reportedly devastated by the revelation.

She ultimately chose to work through the betrayal and salvage their union.S

Ms Sugden later addressed the scandal in the Channel 4 documentary Page Three: The Naked Truth, stating: "He just got away with it. It ruined everything for me."

She added that Mr Kay "got to give an apology on the radio and just got to carry on, with Family Fortunes, ironically."

The separation comes just days after reports suggested the couple were preparing to embark on a new phase together following Ms Daly's departure from Strictly Come Dancing after 21 years as host.

The 57-year-old and Mr Kay had reportedly been planning what was described as a "grown-up gap year" before she reached her 60th birthday.

A source told Closer magazine that Ms Daly was "desperate" to travel the world with her husband, feeling she had "missed out" on such experiences due to working since her teenage years.

Mr Kay had been a regular presence at the Strictly studios in Elstree throughout last year's series.

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